Signal.



No. 812,025. Y YPATENTED FEB. a, 190s. c. E BGWLBR. Sismi..

APPLIUATION FILED JAX, 14t 1595. EEWED DEU. 1B, 1905.

2 SBSETSASHBET L WWESSESL /NVEN Kalf/cf M4 y mdr. *Y l Y A Mmm/sis* No. 812,025. PATENTED PEB. 6, 1906. G. BWLR.

SIGNAL,

APPLIoAToN Hggigzi 1g weg. 32mm ma. 1a, 1905.

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#meurs l UNITED srArEs- PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES R. DOWLER, OF LAMAR, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE COLO- RADO RAILWAY SIGNAL GOMPNY, A CORPORATION OF COLORADO.

SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1906.

To @El whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. DOWLER,

- mar, in the county of Prowers and tate of Colorado have invented a new and Improved Signal, ci which the following is a specification.

My invention relates, more denitel stated, to means indicating dangerous hig Water level at a railroad or other bridge.

The object had in view is to provide a si nal of this character involving new, impibve and simplified means for eiiecting the display of a visual or audible signal indicating danerous high level of the water in a river at a ridge or other cplace. The invention consists of the speci al means hereinafter fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and as pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view illustrating my invention in use at the approach of a railroad-bridge across a river. ig. 2 is an enlarged view, iart in section, showing the 'means emplo e in the makeup of my invention at norma osition; and Fig. 3 is a similar view showing t e means employed at another position.

In carrying out my invention I employ a suitable tank A and embed it in the riverbank substantially as shown in Fig. 1 o my 1 draw' s. A pipe Bis extended from the lower side of the tank A to a oint rejecting through the river-bank, an on t or the outer end thereof I arra e any suitable strainer C. The tank shou d be located at an elevation with its lower side in horizontal plane with the dangerous high-water line of the river. D denotes a tube extending upwardly from the u per side of the tank A to a suitable case located suitably above ound substantially as shown in Fig, 1.

In the tube D, I arrange a rod F, having its lower end bracedly secured to the up er side of a float G, arranged in the tank A, t e rods upper end being made projecting into the case E for: the purpose as Will appear farther on.

On an isuitable base II in the case E, I mount evices o erating to close an electrical circuit I t o h a signal device J, visual or audible, an terminals K K". In the circuit I any suitable battery may be eniployed and the same be located in the case vtherefore I E. The terminal K has a tinding-Y est L at its u er end, and the upper end o the termina gi' is fashioned into a suitable yielding forked socket L. M denotes a conductive arm having ivotal support at one end on a ost N. he arm M is yieldingly held with its free end .in the socket L by tension of a spring O. Circuit is completed through the arm and the socket L by means of a connected wire P, extendin from the binding-post L substantially as s own in Fi 2 and 3.

Q denotes an osci lating arm having suitable connection to the upper end of a post R. One end of the oscillating arm Q is secured to the projecting end of the rod F by any obvious connecting means S, aiiording ad'usti ment. It is intended in the Working o the Y arm Q that its free end should project adapted for engagement with the under side of the freer end of the arm M when the latter is ele- `vated above the socket L to a point about half of its upward adjustment as will be understood u on reference to 2 and 3. The arm is supported at the-adjustment just described by a dog T,V hinged tto the upper side of the base H. The iioat is supported slightly above the opening of the pipe B in thiboxA by suitable projections U, as shown4 in 2,

Oblgviously the conformation of the several features empio ed in the makeup of my mventioii ma he variously modified, and o not desire to be restricted to the form thereof illustrated in the several g- -ures of my drawings.

The construction of my invention will be understood from the above description. In the usev thereof, with Water in the river at normal level, the float G Will rest upon the projections U in the box A, and in this the normal position of the float it is intended that the free end of the oscillating arm Q shallbe at osition holdin the free or circuit-closing end) of the arm to full-adjusted position above the forked terminal L. (Shown by full lines in Fig. 2.) Now it is apparent that should the water-level in the river be caused to rise above dan er-line Water will ilow into the box A throug the pipe B and the iioat G be elevated, which action through connection of the rod F will eiect downward movement of the free end of the oscillating arm and releasing action of the free end of the arm M,

IOO

when the latter by tension of the spring 0 will be drawn down to circuit-closing Contact with the forked arms L. The circuit I being closed, the signal device J will indicate that water in the river is at or above high-water mark. The signal device is intended to be located suiiciently distant from the bridge, if on a railroad, to permit stopping of the train of cars at a point safely from the bridge proach or for notifying an employee of and upon notice thereof to prevent runnin down of the battery the employee shoul without unnecessary delay, cut out the battary and reset the circuit-closin devices in position for operation when anot er dangerous rise of the river occurs. The movable parts are shown in full lines at normal position in Fig. 2. This ligure shows the said parts in dotted lines to adjusted position, While' the dan erous high water continues and the circuit isclosed.

In racticing my invention the case E is provi d with a removable or hinged cover with means for locking it closed. In resetting the signal with the case opened the arm M may be Iproped lp, as shown in Fig. 3, by means of t e hin e. dog T. In this position of the arms M t e circuit I is open. While the Water in the river remains at or above dangerous line, it is apparent that the oseillating arm Will b the float and connections be retained with itsfree end at its lowerinost adjustment, as shown in Fig. 3. It is further a parent that upon lowering of the water-line, t e arm M being ropped up, as described, that the free end o the arm Qwill, by settling action of the float and connections, be adjusted upwardl to en agement With the free end of the arin and ift the latter to its normal position. (Shown by full lines in 2.) The dog T being thus freed its free end will move to normal position. (Shownin Fig. 2.) With the parts in osition as last described obvi.- ously upon he next dangerous rise of the river the arm Q will be adJusted and the circuit I closed, as hereinbeore described.

My invention by slight modification may be adapted for uses Ot er than a high-water signal, and therefore I do not desire to be realpt e railroad. When the circuit I is closed as just described, the signal device will continue indicating that the river is dangerously high,

stricted to the use described nor to the particular conformation of the arts illustrated in the several ures of my ra ings.

Having thus escribed my' ention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination in a signal, of a box having an opening wherethrough Huid may enter into the box, a iioat in the box, a circuit-closer adapted for operation through rising action of the float, an electrical circuit having a battery and signal device'therein, and means whereby the circuit-closer may be held set ready for operation through suitable (onnection, upon the next rising action of the oat.

2. The combination ina signal, of a box suitably located at high-Water level, a pip@ extending from the box to osition adapted to lead the high Water into t e box, a iloat in the bbx, a rod extendin from the lloat, circuitclosing means wherewith the far end of said rod is connected, circuit-Wires a battery and a signal device, and means whereby the circuit-closer maybe held set adapted to be 0perated by rising action of the float substantially as described.

3. The combination in a circuitcloser 0f circuit-terminals, an arin yieldingly held at circuitclosing position, a free acting dg whereby said arm may be held out Of circuitclosing osition, means adapted to lift the circuit-c osing arm to normal open-circuit p0- sition, and meansoperating the lifting-arm, substantially as described. i

4. The combination in a signal einpl0y1l-1g a float and suitable connecting means, of aolrcuit-closer adapted for operation by a lp and its connections, the circuit-closer consisting of an oscillatin arm adapted for operation through the oat connections, circuitterminals, an arm yieldingly held comleting circuit through the terminals, a do W ereby the circuit-closing arm may be hel at Open' circuit location andin position for engagement thereof by the free end of the oscillating arm, substantially as described.

CHARLES R. DOWLER.

Witnesses.:

GEO. D. ROBINSON, FRANK WHEELER. 

